220 
REVIEW OF THE MARCH NO. OF THE AGRICULTURIST.-NO. 3. 
Scraps from my Note Book, No. 2.-—Pretty fair, 
but not quite so good as No. 1. These “ jottings 
down by the way-side” are generally interesting 
and instructive. I hope the author will continue 
them. 
Peach and Nectarine Trees on Plum Stocks .—I 
cannot see the object of this kind of grafting in this 
fruitful country, where the land is not yet so dear 
as to require dwarfing to save room. We graft too 
much. Who raises native fruit now? Is it in 
consequence of forcing nature that trees are so 
short-lived, and that there are so many failures of 
fruit ? 
Stump Machine. —Is this the “ latest and best ?” 
It strikes me that I saw a failure of one of these 
machines at Utica, at the fair. The cotton press 
seen upon every plantation is similar in principle, 
but far more powerful. 
Analysis of Marl on the Hudson. —A valuable 
kind of tables that should be more extended. In 
some parts of the West, where there is no lime¬ 
stone, quick lime is made of similar marl—it being 
moulded into brick and burned in a kiln in the same 
manner that bricks are. This hint may be useful in 
many other districts where there is similar marl and 
no limestone. The vegetable matter will burn out, 
and the water dry out, while all else that remains 
besides the lime, of iron and earthy matter, will not 
injure the lime for the use of the mason in the 
least If there is much iron, the lime will be dark- 
colored, and not so white and nice for plastering, 
that is all. 
Experiments with Corn. —Here is another useful 
table. But why is it anonymous ? Do give your 
names, gentlemen, that your reviewer may know 
who will bear hard words best The “ home¬ 
made” manure in this experiment, must be awarded 
the first premium, as all home-made things upon 
the farm always should stand first in the affection 
of the farmer. It is time enough to look abroad 
to supply his wants, when they can no longer be 
supplied at home. 
Stingless Bees, —A very interesting article, but 
not half full enough. If you please. Mr. Editor, 
just step into the book store of your publishers, 
Messrs. Saxton & Miles, and get a little work en¬ 
titled the “ Honey Bee,” by Edward Bevan, and 
look on page 76, for a history of the genus apis , 
whose proper name is the “ tropical bee,” for they 
are not exclusively Mexican. They are common 
more to Asia and America within the tropics. You 
may make a very interesting extract from the work 
alluded to, upon the subject of these honey gather¬ 
ers. The same ship that brings the Alpacas can 
also bring a few swarms of stingless bees 
Growing Wool. —I often hear this term of 
“ growing wool” objected to. I insist that it is not 
only right, but ought to be as universally adopted 
as “ growing turnips.” It expresses the meaning 
much better than “ raising wool,” “ raising sheep,” 
or “ feeding mutton.” But, Mr. G., what if you 
cannot get such a fine gravelly stream ? What, 
then ? Will the plan described by Solon Robinson, 
in his “ Sheep on the Prairies, No. 3,” answer as a 
substitute ? You say we shall export wool. What! 
while we import a half blood Merino quality as we 
do now (unwashed it is true), for seven cents a 
pound, duty free? [Yes, certainly, for there are 
many objections to this imported wool, which 
require an article of too great length for us to write 
at present.] The sale of every other product be¬ 
sides wool, depends much upon the manner in 
which it is prepared for market. There is great 
want of reform upon this point. I would instance 
the article of butter. If properly prepared, it is 
better at six months old than six days. And cheese 
should never be eaten till a year old; but then it 
must first be properly prepared to keep, as well as 
send to market. 
Buckwheat Cakes. —Another thing, if “ properly 
prepared,” which affords most excellent eating; but 
unfortunately, these proper preparations are few 
and far between. And your preparation with soda 
and acid, and salasratus, and vinegar, may do very 
well for them that cannot do better. You say 
truly that your vinegar cakes will not be so good as 
when raised by good hop yeast, and you might have 
said that they would only be barely eatable. Substi¬ 
tute buttermilk for acid and vinegar, and then see 
what the advantage is of living w r here milk is 
ever flowing. 
Castration of Calves. —“ Put nothing in the 
wound,” is common sense, and using salt, ashes, 
&c., is only a refinement of cruelty. But, about 
cording. When I was a boy, I witnessed an opera¬ 
tion called “ turning,” by which the testicle was 
inverted, and by a cord, apparently without pain to 
the animal, kept in that position for a few days, 
when the cord was removed, and the whole seemed 
to wither up and decay without danger and but little 
trouble. Who knows anything of this practice 
now ? Somebody, surely, and somebody else 
would like to. Let us hear from somebody. [This 
amounts to the same thing as cording; castration is 
better, and less painful, depend upon it.] 
Oneida County Ag. Society. —Crops worthy of the 
premiums. And why should they not be, and why 
should not the society be a flourishing one, in so 
fertile and rich a county ? But, to my mind, there 
is need of something beside big crops in this county, 
for there is now and then a specimen of as poor 
farming as I wish to look at. The Editor of the 
Tribune says they cultivate large quantities of 
apples there, of that interesting variety known as 
“ five to the pint.” And I say that if there is not a 
greater spirit of liberality towards the friends of 
agricultural improvement than was manifested at 
Utica last September, those gentlemen composing the 
Oneida Agricultural Society have some hard cases 
to deal with, and will need a great deal of patience 
and perseverance on their part before they work a 
thorough reform. Let me suggest that they offer a 
premium of $10 to the man who will procure the 
greatest number of subscribers to an agricultural 
paper in that county, as the most likely means of 
producing the desired reform. 
Cattle of Texas. —Allow me to differ with your 
opinion so confidently expressed, Gov. Houston. 
There “ are several good reasons why blooded 
cattle and horses should not do well in Texas, if 
proper care be taken of them the first year.” Be¬ 
cause you will not take proper care of them the 
next year, and therefore on the next they will be 
beyond care. The fact is, choice stock, needs the 
watchful care of the owner. And one kind of 
stock will take but sorry care of another. Texas 
